100 point

A grand cru-level wine of impeccable quality, the 2022 Las Beatas comes from a steep 1.9-hectare site near the historic village of Ollauri in Labastida, terraced and planted to a massal field blend of several red grapes, capturing the perfection of growing and blending Graciano and Garnacha with traditional Tempranillo. It is gorgeously floral and bright in cassis with an underside of velvety dark fruit, light peppery spice, gravel, and crushed flower. It has tremendous structure and the aging potential of another 20-30 years, if not more. This one will stay on your mind well after it has left your palate.

98 point

The 2022 Las Beatas is the single-vineyard red from the field blend of eight or nine varieties that are interplanted in this unique place. In the very warm and dry 2022 vintage, the exceptional conditions of its soil allowed the grapes to ripen without stress. But they still harvested eight days before 2021. It fermented in open-top 3,000-liter oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in 1,200-liter foudres for 14 to 16 months. It is super expressive and aromatic, floral and perfumed, quite a contrast with the more backward Tabuérniga. The wine comes in at 14% alcohol, with a pH of 3.75 and four grams of acidity, but it does feel quite tender and even delicate, very fine-boned with only a medium-bodied structure and elegant and refined tannins.

99 point

Testvinder! There are vineyards that are visually striking and others whose identity lies in the grapes they yield; Las Beatas combines both. Three terraces of old vines in Labastida define one of Rioja’s most distinctive reds. A field blend of up to nine co-planted varieties, the 2022 Las Beatas was aged briefly in 1,200L foudre. Violet, herbs, peach and a sanguine nuance rise first, then the wine evolves continuously in the glass. Expressive and layered, the palate is delicate and agile, with light chalk and youthful energy, while remaining both ethereal and serious. Still early in bottle, its magic lies in its singularity. A wine autonomous within Rioja.